Further football fan is banned from matches after pitch invasion at Chesterfield FC

Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Published:14:38Saturday 26 August 2017

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A second football fan has been ordered to pay £846 and been banned from matches for three years after he invaded the pitch during the Chesterfield FC’s match against Grimsby.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Wednesday, August 23, how Wesley Hargreaves, 32, ran onto the pitch at the Proact Stadium, on Sheffield Road, at Whittington, Moor, on August 5, before he was stopped and escorted from the ground.

Proact Stadium. Pic by James Williamson.

Wind technician Hargreaves was one of two Grimsby fans who invaded the pitch during the same match and both were fined and received Football Banning Orders.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “It was just after 3.30pm and it was following the scoring of a goal that the defendant climbed over a barrier between the fans and the pitch and he was apprehended by stewards and arrested by police.”

Hargreaves told police he had consumed a few pints of beer before the match and after Grimsby had scored he jumped over the barrier to stop getting squeezed by celebrating supporters.

The defendant, who has a previous conviction for threatening behaviour, pleaded guilty to invading the pitch during a match without lawful authority.

He also admitted failing to surrender to court during a previous scheduled hearing.

Defence solicitor Paul McLeod said: “This kind of behaviour can be extremely serious with the invading of pitches en masse and with the throwing of missiles and with people making gesticulations.

“He was prohibited from going on the pitch which he did but it was a celebration.

“Grimsby had scored and he was happy and he went on the pitch and he didn’t threaten or abuse anybody.”

Mr McLeod added that Hargreaves had been working and had not realised he should have originally attended court on August 22.

Magistrates fined Hargreaves, of Taylor Street, Cleethorpes, £692 and ordered him to pay a £69 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

He was also given a Football Banning Order banning him from attending football matches in the UK for three years.